Apparatus for continuously coiling elongated filaments



May 27, 1952 E. D. HANSON 2,598,537

APPARATUS FOR commuousw COILING ELONGATED FILAMENTS Filed March 31, 194'? 5 Sheets-Sheet l 3 k I w Q 3 2 lNl/ENTOR 0. HANSON A TTORNEV FIG. .9

May 27, 1952 E. D. HANSON 2,593,537

APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY COILING ELONGATED FILAMENTS v Filed March 51,, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ma ,foe use Z;

I! J INVENTOR 96 5.0. HANSON A TTORNE Y E. D. HANSON 2,598,537 APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY COILING ELONGATED FILAMENTS May 27, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 31, 1947 ll'llllllllllllll llllllllllllllllllllllla% //v l EN 70/? 0. HANSON u T 7 u a n I II- DU H m w M n F. A Z w @a Q @Q Q9 6Q H i Q 9 5 4 a 66 Q 9 a 4 2 0 A 7' TORNE Y E. D. HANSON May 27, 1952 APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY COILING ELONGATED FILAMENTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 51, 1947 FIG. 7

FIG. 6

-//v|//v TOR 5.0. HANSON May 27, 1952 E. D. HANSON 2,598,537

APPARATUS FOR cowrmuousw 001mm ELONGATED FILAMENTS Filed March 51, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ED. HANSON A T TORNE Y Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR 'CONTINUOUSLY COILING ELONGATED FILAMENTS Estyle =D. Hanson, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Western Electric Company,.Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March '31, 1947, .Serial No. 738,443

- 16"Glaims. (Cl. 242-80) This invention relates to apparatus for continuously coiling elongated filaments, and particularly to apparatus for continuously coiling conductors into a series of coils and for severing the conductors to separate coils.

In the manufacture of filamentary articles, such, "for example, as jacketed or insulated conductors, wherein filamentary articles are iformed or processed continuously by suitable apparatus and are advanced 'from the apparatus continuously, the'elonga'ted articles frequently are coiled and severed into a series of coils. In the past, no apparatus has been provided for easily coiling such articles into 'a series of coils without stopping the processing apparatus at intervals to sever the article when-a co'il'ofthe desired length 'is formed and to attach the severed end of the article to some sort of alternate apparatus for -forminga new coil.

An object of the invention is to provide new and improved apparatus for continuously coiling elongated-filaments.

iurther object of the invention is to provide :new and improved apparatus for continuously coiling filamentary articles into aseries of coils, and ior "severing portions of the articles extending between the coils to separate the coils.

apparatus illustrative of certain features of thefiinvention includes :a series of coiling elements, which are indexed so that only one set isoperative at :one time to form a coil -'from a filamen'tary conductor. ;After a predetermined length of the conductor is coiled on one set -of coiling elements, the ceiling elements are in- -dexed to bring another 'se't of coiling elements into pos'ition to -coil the conductor. -'One of the coils previously forme'd is dropped onto "a panof a turntable and is severed from the remainder o'f'thecoils by an automatic cutofi' device. The turntable then is rotated to move an empty re- 'cei-ving pan 'into a coil-receiving position, and 'the operations described hereinabove are repeated.

A comple'te understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description of an apparatus forming a specific embodiment-(lithe invent-ion, when read in con junction with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 isa dragmen'tary, top plan view oi an -:apparatu's embodying the invention;

Fig. '2 is an enlarged, fragmentary side -e1evation of the apparatus with portions thereof shown in-section; I

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, -'f-ragmentary, horizontal section taken along -line -"33 of Fig. *2;

Fig. '4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, horizontal section similar to Fig. 3 put with certain :elements of the apparatus shown in difierent positions; I

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical section taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, vertical section taken along line 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. -7 a schematic view of a control circuit forming a part of the apparatus;

Fig. -8 is a fragmentary, horizontal section takenalongline 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is'an enlarged, fragmentary, horizontal section taken along line 8-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. -10- is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along line .I 0-; Fig. 5, and

Fig. 1 1 is an enlarged ag mentary horizontal section taken along linel ll-"l I of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, an insulated conductor -l0 (Fig. l) is advanced by a capstan 1-2 from -a continuous extruding and vulcanizing "machine M, which extrudes and vulcanizes a covering-over a suitable core, which maybe a bare conductor, an insulated conductor or a group of -insulated conductors. A coiler '20 advances the conductor l0 continuously from the capstan I2 over a counter 22 and past a distributor .2 4, which automatically distributes the -jacketed. conductor as the coiler 20 coils itinto coils, illustrated by coils 26, 21 and 28. Acutter .automatically severe the jacketed conductor at predetermined points to separate the :coils from one another. The individual coils are automatically conveyed .from the coiler 20 by .a turntablei32.

:The coileri2ll includes a standard (Fig.2) having a bearing housing 42, in which are mounted thrust bearings 44.-44 (Fig. 5) mount- "ing -a .hollow journal '46 of a generally annular arbor 48 or'drum, which :has a bell-shaped guard :portion "49 and is tapered slightly. A coiler motor 50, which 'is-a standard electric motor 'of a variable speed type, serves to rotate the arbor 48 continuously. Endless roller chains 52-'52 (Fig. 5'), having guide rollers Ell-{5| projecting laterally therefrom into .guideways 53-53, are mounted for movement in endlessQguideways 54.--,5'4.-1formed in the arbor 48. .A series .of sets of double-faced reel segments or separators, illustrated -by reel segments 56-56, I 5'|--51, 58 58 'and 59-59, include link portions "6262,which 'form every third link of'the chains:52-52. 'The reel segments also are provided with relieved portions '6,4--64, which bear'against. straight portions of the chains 5252 but which permit the chains to move away therefrom as the chains and the links move around sharply curved portions 66-66 of the guideways 54-54, thereby permitting the. chains 52-52 to curve sharply.

The distributor 24 (Fig. 1) is a conventional type of distributor and serves to distribute the jacketed conductor I in the space between the set of reel segments 58-56 and the set of reel segments 51-51, when these sets of reel segments are in positions shown in Fig. 5, and serves to guide the jacketed conductor to the coiler 20 only in that space.

A push rod 10 splined to the journal 46 carries a plurality of spring-pressed dogs 12-12 thereon and is fastened by a rotation-permitting, thrusttransmitting coupling 13 to a piston 14 (Fig. 2) mounted in a cylinder 16. When the piston 14 is moved upwardly, as viewed in Fig. 5, the dogs 12-12 engage two double-faced reel segments of the total number of reel segments fastened to each of the chains 52-52 and move the reel segments upwardly, which moves the chain 52-52 around the guideways 54-54 in directions which move the reel segments positioned on the outside of the guideways 54-54 downwardly. When the push rod 10 is moved downwardly again, the dogs 12-12 cam inwardly into the push rod 10 under the reel segments positioned between the guide rod 54-54 so that the reel segments and the chains 52-52 are not returned to their former positions. When the push rod 10 is moved downwardly, leaf springs 11-11 engage reel segments 19-19 to prevent the segments and chains from slipping back. When the push rod 10 is held in the position shown in Fig. 5, a shoulder 18 formed thereon and thedogs 12-12 prevent movement of the chains 52-52 along the guideways 54-54.

A bleeder-valve-controlled, four-way valve 80 (Figs. 2 and 6), of a well known type, controls the operation of the cylinder 16 and piston 14. After a predetermined length of the conductor I0 has been coiled between the set of reel segments56-56 and the set .of reel segments'51-51, the counter 22 (Fig. 1), which is a standard type of counter, momentarily closes a switch 82 (Fig. '1) thereof. This connects powerline conductors 84 and 85 through solenoid winding 88 of the valve 80 (Fig. 6) and a solenoid winding 90, (Fig. 7) of a bleeder-valve-control1ed, four-way valve 92 (Fig. 2).

. When the solenoid winding 88 is energized momentarily'by the counter switch 82, it sets the valve 80-to supply air under pressure to the lower end of the cylinder 16, as viewed in Fig. 2. This moves the piston 14 and the push rod 10 (Fig. upwardly, as viewed in Fig. 5, a distance sufficient to move the reel, segments 56-56 to the positions occupied by the reel segments 51-51 in Fig. 5 and to move a set of reel segments 93-93 to the positions occupied by the reel segment 56-56 in Fig. 5. The conductor I0 passes between two adjacent reel segments 56-56, as they assume the positions formerly taken by the reel segments 51-51, and the coiling them is commenced between the set of reel segments 56-56 and the set of reel segments 93-93 to form a new coil.

The solenoid winding 90 (Fig. 7) is energized momentarily simultaneously with the energization of the solenoid winding 98 during the short period in which the switch 82 is closed, after which the counter 22 (Fig. 1) automatically resets to zero, and the switch 82 reopens. The winding 90 sets the valve 92 (Fig. 2) .to direct air under pressure to the lower end of a cylinder 94, as viewed in Fig. 2, so that piston 96 is urged the cutter 30.

4 upwardly to move a rod 98 upwardly. The rod 98 is connected by a thrust-transmitting, rotary coupling 99 to a slotted, tapered pan I00 and moves the pan I00 upwardly. The pan I00 has a journal I02 formed thereon, which is mounted rotatably in a bearing I04 formed in a rotating plate I06 of the turntable 32. A compression spring I08 normally urges the rod 98 and the pan I00 downwardly to hold the pan in engagement with a brake disc IIO carried by the plate I06 to prevent rotation of the pan I00 when in contact with the brake disc. However, when the valve 92 is actuated, as described hereinabove, and the pan I00 is moved upwardly, the pan I00 moves out of contact with the brake disc and moves a self-centering bevelled clutch facing II2 formed on the pan I00 into frictional engagement with a clutch facing II4 carried by the arbor 48, and as a result, the arbor 48 rotates the pan I00 therewith.

The distance the pan I00 is lifted by the piston 96 is much lessthan the distance through which the piston 14 is moved so that the pan I00 is moved into engagement with the arbor 48 during the initial portion of the upward strokeof the piston 14 and the movement of the chains 52-52 and the reel segments carried therewith. While the pan I00 is rotated with the arbor 48, the piston 14 completes its stroke and moves the set of reel segments 51-51 downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 5, to the positions occupied by the set of reel segments 58-58 in Fig. 5. At the same time the segments 58-58 move to the positions formerly occupied by segments 59-59. Since there isthen no support for the coil 26, it drops upon the pan I 00 by gravity.

At the piston 14 (Fig. 2) reaches the upper end of its stroke, a do Ila carried thereby engages and closes a limit switch I20 (Fig. '1) The closing of the switch I20 completes a circuit to a solenoid winding I22 of the valve (Fig. 6) and a solenoid winding I24 (Fig. I) of a bleeder-valvecontrolled, four-way valve I26 (Fig. 3), which is identical with the valve 80 and is associated with This energizes the windings I22 and I24, and when the winding I22 is energized, it sets the valve 80 (Fig. 2) to supply air to the upper end of the cylinder 16, whereby the piston 14 is forced downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 2. This moves the dog I I8 away from the switch I20 and this switch opens the downward movement of the piston 14, returns the push rod 13 to the position shown in Fig. 5, and the dogs 12-12 merely slide under the reel segments 59-59 and the set of reel segments 19-19 without moving the reel segments carried by the chains 52-52. The shoulder 18, the leaf springs 11-11 and the dogs 12-12 prevent lengthwise movement of the chains 52-52 until the next energization of the solenoid winding 88.

During the momentary energization of the solenoid winding I24 (Fig. '1) that is, while the switch I20 is closed, the winding I24 sets the valve I26 to supply air under pressure to the upper end, as viewed in Fig. 3, of a cylinder I28 and to exhaust air from the lower end thereof. This moves a carriage I30 of the cutter 30 downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 3, to the position it occupies in Fig. 11. The cutter 30 carries a blade I32 pivotally thereon, and the blade I32 is urged in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, by a compression spring I34. A blade I36 is connected pivotally to the blade I32 by a pin I38 and. carries a follower I40 on an end thereof. A follower I40 is urged by a tension spring I4I against a cam 5 surface 142 formed on the carriage I30. Thecarriage 130 also is provided with a conductor-guidin' surface -I'44, and stop pins I46 and I48, which limit movement of the blade I32 relative to the carriage I30.

When the carriage I30 reaches the position it occupies in Fig. '11, the tip of...'the blade I36 touches the outer periphery of the arbor 48 and is in a position in which a connecting loop I50 of the conductor I0 between the coil 26 and the coil between the segments 56-56 and 51-51 cannot slip between the blade I36 and the arbor =48 when ftheconn'ecting loop 150 is moved past the carriage 30. The guide surface I44 guides the loop I50 between the blades 1'32 and 136 and as the 100p I50 is carried ,further by the coiling head, it swings the blade I32 in :a'counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 11. This moves the blade I36 upwardly, and moves the cam follower I40 along the cam surface I42. As the cam follower 140 is moved along the cam surface I42, the blade I36 is swung in a clockwise direction in a cutting stroke, and the blades I32 and I36 are moved to the positions they occupy in Fig. 4 to sever the connectin loop I50. The compression spring I94, after theconnecting'loop I 50-has been severed, moves the blade 136 back against stop pin l46, and the tension spring 141 and the return of the blade I32 return the blade I36 to its former-open position.

When :the carriage I30 is moved to its cutting position, as described hereinabovaadog I52 carried thereby closes a normally 'open limitswitch I 54 to start a timer I56 of 'a. well known type by energizing Ia clutch-actuating solenoid winding I60. thereof and "energizing a timer motor 166 thereof through a normally closed "switch I64. The timer motor I66 runs for :a predetermined period of time, which is at least as great as the time necessary for the arbor 48 (Fig. 2) to make 'one complete revolution so that the connecting loop 1-50 is severed regardless of the position it occupied when the forward :stroke of the cutter carriage 130 was completed.

After'the connecting loop I50 (Fig. 3.) has been cut and the period "of time for which the timer I56 is set has expired, the timer opens theswitch I64 and closes a switch I68 thereof. Opening of the switch I64 deenergize's the timer motor I66, bu'tthe clutch-actuating solenoid winding I60 is kept energized and the clutch (not shown) holds the switch 168 closed. When the switch I68 is closed, it completes circuits to a solenoid winding :I iof the valve I26 :(Fig. :3) and ia solenoid winding "I12 (Fig. 7) of the valve '92 (Fig. 2'). When the solenoid winding 110 (Fig. :39 is enorgized, it sets the valve I26 in a 'conditionin which air under pressure is supplied to the lower end of "the cylinder I28, as viewed in Fig. 4. In this settingof the valve 126, air Tisexhausted from the upper end of the cylinder so that the carriage 13 0 is moved upwardly, as viewed in Fig. '4, to return the tcutter to its inactive position and hold it there. As thecarriag'e "I30 .is so'moved, the dog 1.521ismov7ed away 'from the switch 154, and the switch .I54 then 'opens. This deenergiz'es the clutch-actuating solenoid :winding I60 (Fig. 7) andthe solenoid winding I10 and 1112 so that-the timer II 56 resets to zero, thereby closing the switch .164 and'opening the switch I68.

During the instant the solenoid winding -I12 is energized, that is, during the time between the closing of the switch I68 and itheo'pening of the switch I154, the winding 'I12sets the valve 92 to supply air under pressure to the upper end iof the cylinder 94, as viewed in Fig.2, and to exhaust air from the lower end of the cylinder 94 so that the ram 96 is moved downwardly to permit {the compression spring 108 and the weights of the coil 26 and the pan I 00 to force the pan I00 downwardly out of engagement with the "clutch face I I4'and into engagement with thebrakedisc I10. The brake disc I I0 then stops the'rot'a'tion of the pan I00 and the coil 26 carried thereon. During the downward movement of the ram96, a 'zpivotally mounted spring-pressed trip I113. en'- gages a switch I14 and momentarily closes it to energize a relay winding 116 '(Fig. '7) of a-reset relay I11 (Fig. 18), As the ram 96 '(Fig. .2) moves further downwardly, the trip I113 moves "out Of engagement with the switch I14 and this switch reopens. Since the trip I '13 is pivotally mounted, it-does 'notclose the switch I14 during theup'ward movement of the ram196.

During the momentary energization of the winding "I16 (Fig. 7),;the winding I16 moves an overcente'r switch 118 to a clos'edposition. Closing of the switch :I18 completes the circuit 12012.11 electric motor I and a Winding -'I82Jof -a latchingsolenoid 484 (Fig. 9) The winding 184 withdraws 'a tapered indexing pin I86 from a self centering socket 188 formed in the plate I06 "to permit the plate 106 to *berotatled. By the time the windin I84 has released the plate I106 for rotation, the motor I80 starts to rotate the plate I 06 in a counterclockwise direction, :as viewed .in Fig. 1. This moves the lo'aded pan fromu'nder the coiling head 20 :and moves an empty pan +89 identical therewith toward the position just :left by the pin I00. :Just before theiplate I06 has rotated 90, a dog -I9 0 (Figs. 2 and "8) carried therewith moves into and-out 'of engagement with a triparm I92 of the reset relay I11 thereby tripping the trip arm 102,. This tripping of the :trip arm I192 opens theovercenter switch I10 '(Fig. T) to deenergize the motor :I80 and the solenoid winding :I82. Deenergization of the motor permits the-plate 1:06 to coast, and 'deenergization of the solenoid winding I82 releases the tapered indexing pin I86, which is urged upwardly. as viewed in Fig. 9, towards its indexing position, and 'the indexing pin [86 moves :into a self-reentering socket I94 formed in the plate 4.00 .at a point 90 behind the socket 1.8.8 to lock the disc in this position. At this timegtheempty pan T89 .is'directly below the 'coilin'ghead '20 and the dog 19.0 is moved completely :out'ofengagement with the trip arm I92 so that overcente'r switch .118 (Fig 7-) may be :reclosed'during the next cyc'l'e of operation.

The coil 28 on a pan 196, which is moved into the position which the pan I89 'occupies in Fig. 8, is tied and removed from the pan I96. When the new :c'oil being formed between the re'el'se'g- 'm'ents 56-'.56 and the segments 93 93 CFi'g 5) has a predetermined length of conductor -ere'- in, the counter 22 (Fig. 1) initiates anotherbycle of operation identical with that described hereiiiab'ove.

-In the apparatus described hereinabove, there is always one full-coil on'the coil'er 20 adjacent to the beginning "portion of a new coil which the coiler 20 is starting to coil. The severing action occurs below this full -'coil, which prevents the beginning portions: the new coil fr'om flying 1oose frb'm the 'coile'i', as it might do there were a-severed end of the conductor tlie b'e ginning portion-of the new coil. Thatis'by the .presencenf aninterm ediate coil betweenrthe coil beingrre'moved from the c'oiler land the portion of the conductor starting a new coil, the coiling is continuous and automatic. The intermediate coil, though having a loose end of the conductor, is prevented from unwinding on the coiler by the direction of rotation of the coiler, which keeps the loose end in place.

In the operation of the apparatus described hereinabove, the continuous extruding and vulcanizing machine I4 forms the insulated conductor l0, and the capstan l2 continuously advances the conductor through the machine M. The coiler 20 continuously coils the conductor l and draws the conductor from the capstan l2 past the counter 22 and the distributor 24. When a suflicient length of the conductor i0 is coiled, the counter automatically starts the cycle of operation described hereinabove and the pan of the turntable 32 below the coiler 20 is moved upwardly into contact with the arbor 48 (Fig. 2) and starts to rotate therewith. The coils are moved downwardly one step to deposit the lowermost coil carried by the coiling head 20 on the pan being rotated with the arbor 48, and the coiler starts to wind a new coil. The cutter 30 (Fig. 3) cuts the connecting loop of conductor to separate the coil on the pan being rotated from the coil directly thereabove, that pan then is lowered out of engagement with the arbor 48, the turntable 32 is rotated 90in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1 and the operation described hereinabove is repeated.

The apparatus described hereinabove automatically winds the conductor I0 into a series of coils each having a predetermined length, severs the coils from each other and moves the coils into positions in which the coils may be tied so that an operator of the apparatus need only tie the coils to bind them and remove the tied coils from the turntable 32. end of one coil to the beginning of a new coil is automatic and is accomplished without interruption in the coiling operation so that the continuous extruding and vulcanizing machine l4 need not be stopped to terminate one coil and begin another coil. 7

The coiler described hereinabove also is suitable for coiling other types of filamentary articles than insulated conductors, e. g., rope, twine, wire, etc., may also be coiled thereon.

What is claimed is:

l. A coiling apparatus, which comprises a rotatable drum, means for guiding filamentary material to the drum, a plurality of means carried by the drum for forming a plurality of coils of filamentary material upon the drum, means for effecting relative movement between the material-guiding means and the drum longitudinally of the drum to form a coil on the drum at each coil-forming means with portions of the material extending between the coils, and means for severing the portions of the material between the coils.

2. An apparatus for coiling filaments, which comprises a tapered, vertically mounted arbor,

a plurality of sets of reel segments carried by the,

arbor, and means for severing the latter coil formed from the remainder of the filament.

3. A coiling and severing apparatus, which comprises a rotatable arbor, a plurality of sets of separators, means for guiding a filament to a predetermined portion of the arbor, means for holding the sets of separators in spaced positions on the arbor, said holding means serving to hold a pair of said sets of separators in positions bracketing said space to which a filament is guided, means for rotating the arbor and the separators therewith to coil the filament between said pair of separators, means for shifting the separators longitudinally with respect to the arbor to bracket said space with a difierent two sets of separators, and control means for causin the shifting means to operate at predetermined intervals.

4. A coiling apparatus, which comprises a hollow arbor having at least one endless guideway extending longitudinally along the outer periphery thereof transversely over an end thereof, longitudinally along the inner periphery thereof and transversely to the outer periphery thereof, a plurality of reel segments mounted in side to side relationship in said guideway, and means for moving the reel segments along the guideway.

5. A coiling apparatus, which comprises a hollow arbor having at least one endless guideway extending longitudinally along the outer periphery thereof, transversely from the outer periphery thereof to the inner periphery thereof, longitudinally along the inner periphery thereof and The transition from the transversely back to the outer periphery thereof, an endless chain mounted in the endless guideway, a plurality of reel segments mounted in side to side relationship in said guideway and carried by the chain, and means for moving the chain along the guideway.

6. A coiling apparatus, which comprises a plurality of sets of coil-separators, a plurality of endless chains mounted in radial planes for carrying the sets of separators in positions projecting from the chains at spaced points there along so that a filament may be coiled between two adjacent sets of the separators, means for guiding a filament to the space between said adjacent sets of separators, means for revolving the chains to coil the filament between said adjacent sets of separators, and means for automatically moving the chains to move a full coil and to coil the filament between another two adjacent sets of separators.

7. A coiling apparatus, which comprises an arbor having at least one endless guideway extending along the outer periphery of the arbor longitudinally with respect to the arbor, transversely to the inner periphery of the arbor, longitudinally along the inner periphery of the arbor and transversely back to the outer periphery of the arbor, an endless chain mounted for movement in said guideway, a plurality of reel segments projecting from the endless chain at spaced positions thereon, means for serving a filament to a predetermined portion of the arbor, means for holding the chain in a position in which the chain holds two adjacent reel segments in positions bracketing said portion of the arbor to form a coil of the filament therebetween, and means operable when the predetermined length of the filament has been coiled between the two lastmentioned reel segments for moving the segments and the coil longitudinally on the arbor toward an end of the arbor and out of said predetermined portion of the arbor and for bracketing said space with another pair of said reel segments to form a coil therebetween, said chains serving to carry the reel segments in positions extending perpendicularly to the chains'so that the reel segments move from positions extending laterally with respect to the arbor when carried by the chain along the outer periphery of the arbor and extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the arbor when carried by the chain along the portions of the guideway transverse to thelongitudinal axis of the arbor so that coils may be removed fromthe end of the arbor.

8-. A coiling" apparatus, which comprises an arbor having at least one endless guideway extending along the outer periphery of the arbor longitudinally with respect to the arbor, transversely across an end of the arbor to the inner periphery of the arbor, longitudinally along the inner periphery of the arbor and transversely back tothe outer periphery of' the arbor, an endless chain mounted for'movement in said guideway, a plurality of reel segments projectingperpendicularly from the endless chain at spaced positions thereon, said reel segments serving to collapse as they are moved over said endof the arbor, means for serving a filament to a predetermined portion of the arbor spaced from said end of the arbor, means for holding the chain in a position in which the chain holds two adjacent reel segments in positions bracketing said portion of the arbor to form a coil of the filament therebetween, means automatically operable when a predetermined length of the "filament hasbeen coiled between the two last-mentioned reel segments for moving the segments and the coil longitudinally on the arbor toward said end of the arbor and out of said predetermined portion of the arbor and for bracketing said space with another pair of said reel segments to form a coil therebetween, said chains serving to carry the reel segments in positions extending perpendicularly to the chains so that the reel segments move from positions extending laterally with respect to the arbor when carried by the chain along the outer periphery of the arbor to colw lapsed positions in which they extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the arbor when carried by the chain over said end of the arbor so that coils may be removed from the arbor, and automatically and intermittently operable means for severing the conductor between coils thereof to separate the coils.

9. A coiling apparatus, which comprises a rotatable coiling head for coiling a filament into a series of coils and for moving the coils step by step along the coiling head after each coil is formed, means for severing the portion of the filament between two of the coils to separate these coils, said coiling head having a clutch member formed on an end thereof, a plurality of rotatable receiving elements, each of said receiving elements being provided with a clutch portion designed to engage the clutch portion on the coiling head, means for moving the receiving elements one at a time in alignment with the coiling head, means for pressing one of the receiving elements aligned with the coiling head toward the coiling head to cause engagement between the clutch portion of that receiving element and the clutch portion of the coiling head, means for moving a coil from the coiling head onto the last-mentioned receiving element, means for moving the last-mentioned receiving element away from the coiling head, means for braking the receiving element moved away from the coiling 10 head, and means for actuating the receivingelement-moving means when the last-mentioned receiving element is moved out of contact with the coiling head.

10. A coiling apparatus, which comprises a rotatable arbor, means for rotating the arbor, means for serving a filament to a predetermined coiling portion of'the arbor, said coiling portion being spaced from an end of the arbor at least a distance equal to the length of the coiling portion, a plurality of sets of reel segments, means intermittently operable for moving the reel segments endlessly along the arbor, means for indexing the reel segments in positions bracketing the coiling portion ofthe arbor and for holding a coil previously formed in the coiling portion in a position spaced more closely to said end of the arbor than the coiling portion of the arbor, a receiving pan positioned adjacent to said end of the arbor, means for efiecting nonrotating engagement between the receiving pan and the end of the arbor, means operable when a coil is completed at the coiling portion of the arbor for moving that coil and the coil preceding it along the arbor to move the foremost coil from the arbor to the receiving'pan, a cutter operable after said movement occurs for severing a portion of the filament extending between the two coils to separate the coil on the receiving pan from the newly formed coil on the arbor, and means for disengaging the receiving pan from the arbor and for moving the pan out of alignment with the arbor.

11. A coiling apparatus, which comprises a rotatable arbor, meansfor rotating the arbor, means for serving a filament toa predetermined coiling portion of the arbor, saidcoiling portion being spaced from an end of the arbor at least adistance equal tothe length of the coiling portion, a plurality of sets of collapsible'reel segments, means intermittently operable for moving the reel segments endlessly along the arbor, said coil segments being collapsible at said end of the arbor, means for indexing the reel segments in positions bracketing the coiling portion of the arbor and for holding a coil previously formed in the coiling portion in a position spaced closely to said end of the arbor than said coiling portion of the arbor, a receiving pan positioned adjacent to said end of the arbor, automatic means for effecting non-rotating engagement between the receiving pan and the end of the arbor, means automatically operable when a coil is completed at the coiling portion of the arbor for actuating the reel segmentmoving means to move that coil and the coil ahead of it along the arbor to move the latter coil from the arbor to the receiving pan, a cut ter actuated by the actuating means after said movement occurs for severing a portion of the filament extending between the two coils to separate the coil on the receiving pan from the newly formed coil on the arbor, and means operable after the operation of the cutter for disengaging the receiving pan from the arbor and for moving the pan out of alignment with the arbor.

12. A coiling apparatus, which comprises a coiling head for forming a series of connected coils thereon from a continuous filament, a cutter movable to a position between two adjacent coils formed by the coil-forming means, said cut ter including means operable by an interconnecting portion of the filament between the lastmentioned coils for severing said portion of the filament to separate the coils, and means for removing from the coiling head a coil severed from the remainder of the coils.

13.'A cutting and coiling apparatus, which comprises a rotatable arbor, means for rotating the arbor to. coil a filament into a seriesof interconnected coils, a pair of shears, means for moving the shears to a position in which the shears are open and the tip of one of the shears touches thearbor at a point between two coils formed on the arbor, said arbor serving to move a portion of the filament connecting the last-mentioned coils into engagement with the shears,;said shears being movable by said portion of the filament, camming means for closing the shears when the shears are moved by said portion of the filament to sever said portion, and means for moving the shears away from thearbor.

14. A coiling apparatus, which comprises a hollow arbor, a plurality of endless guideways spaced laterally around the arbor, a plurality of endless chains for movement in the endless guideways, a plurality of double-faced reel segments carried by the endless chains in substantially edge-to-edge relationship, a reciprocable member provided with a plurality of ratchetfeed means for engaging the reel segments to move the reel segments in one direction, said ratchet feed means serving to permit movement of the member in the other direction without moving the reel segments, and means associated with the ratchet feed means for preventing movement of the reel segments,

15.'A coiling apparatus, which comprises a coilinghead including an arbor for forming a series of coils therealong, means for pushing one at a time 011 the end of the arbor coils formed by the arbor, means for severing the coils, a turntable, a plurality of receiving pans carried rotatably by the turntable, means for indexing the turntable to position one of the receiving pans in alignment with the arbor, means for moving the last-mentioned serving pan into non-rotatable engagement with the arbor, means for braking the last-mentioned receiving pan, means for moving the last-mentioned pan out of engagement with the arbor and into engagement with the pan-breaking means, and means for moving the last-mentioned receiving pan out of alignment with the arbor and for moving another serving pan into alignment with the arbor.

16. A coiling apparatus, which comprises a rotatable arbor having a clutch member formed on a free end thereof, a coil receiving element having formed thereon a clutch member complementary to the clutch member on the arbor and normally freely rotatable with respect to the arbor, means for transferring a coil from the arbor to the receiving element, means for braking the receiving element against rotation after receiving a transferred coil, means for moving the receiving element into and out of alignment with the arbor, and means for moving the aligned coil receiving element to engage the clutch thereof with the clutch member of the arbor.

ESTYLE D. HANSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 636,242 Cromwell Nov. 7, 1899 1,637,700 Lee et al Aug. 2, 1927 1,945,898 Hood Feb. 6, 1934 2,126,528 Beach Aug. 9, 1938 2,149,851 MacLeod Mar. 7, 1939 2,321,646 Blodgett June 15, 1943 

